Ready for launching, at the Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, 17 August 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (Photo #: 80-G-K-14048).

Launching, Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, 17 August 1943.

Underway at sea in the vicinity of Trinidad, with planes parked forward, apparently in preparation for landing aircraft, 22 February 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (Photo #: 80-G-221142).

Boston Navy Yard, March 14, 1944. Wasp is believed to have been the first carrier camouflaged in Measure 33, Design 10A.

As above. Good port side view of Measure 33, Design 10A.

A TBM-1C Avenger from VT-14 early in Wasp's combat career (no markings on the tail), June 1944, ends up in the water after a failed cat shot.

SB2C-1C Helldiver from VB-14 collides with one of Wasp's 5" gun mounts returning from a raid on Palau, August 1944.

This SB2C Helldiver from VB-14 ended up "in the drink" after a bad landing, August 1944.

Flight deck crews prepare to load a Mark XIII torpedo on a TBM aircraft, during strikes in the Luzon-Formosa area, 13 October 1944. Note plywood shrouds on the torpedo's fins and nose. Plane at right is an F6F, others visible are TBMs.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (Photo #: 80-G-298609).

Third Fleet aircraft carriers at anchor in Ulithi Atoll, 8 December 1944, during a break from operations in the Philippines area. The carriers are (from front to back): USS Wasp (CV-18), USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Hancock (CV-19) and USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). Wasp, Yorktown and Ticonderoga are all painted in camouflage Measure 33, Design 10a. Photographed from a USS Ticonderoga plane.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (Photo #: 80-G-294131).

USS Wasp in late January 1945, being refueled by USS Chipola (AO-63). Note the early flag bridge with lower quad 40mm's and the hangar deck catapult.

USS Wasp at Ulithi, February 1945, airing her laundry from the hangar deck.

Two interesting pictures of the USMC detachment.

Top: Circa April 1945. Note the "early bridge" with the forward quad 40mm gun tub on the island and her dazzle paint.

Bottom: At some later time. Same spot, after island had been modified and the ship repainted in a new camouflage scheme.

Stern view, port side, of USS Wasp (CV-18). June 2, 1945. Puget Sound Navy Yard photo (# 2803-45).

Source: Kitsap County Library System.

Wasp had her hull number painted upside down on the forward part of the flight deck for some reason. Hornet also started out this way but someone with a little authority thought it looked stupid and had it painted right side up shortly after entering combat.

Although this photo is undated, it must have been taken in June 1945 or later, as Wasp didn't have the port catapult until then. (Thanks to Tracy White, who pointed this out).

One of Wasp's F4U-1D's from VBF-86 does a flip onto an SB2C-4, July 1945.

Photo taken from Wasp's island looking aft over her 40mm's and 5" DP guns showing her airgroup, August 1945.

At sea in the western Pacific, 6 August 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (Photo #: 80-G-261904).

Carrier Operations off Japan, August 1945 — A Japanese aircraft is shot down just off the starboard bow of USS Wasp (CV-18), during operations off Honshu, Japan, 9 August 1945. Two Fletcher-class destroyers are in the foreground. Photographed from USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), the image includes two frames, showing the scene just before and after the crash. The original caption identifies the aircraft as a Grace (Aichi B7A2).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-455702).

Task Force 38, of the U.S. Third Fleet, maneuvering off the coast of Japan, 17 August 1945, two days after Japan agreed to surrender. Taken by a USS Shangri-La (CV-38) photographer. The aircraft carrier in lower right is USS Wasp (CV-18). Also present in the formation are five other Essex-class carriers, four light carriers, at least three battleships, plus several cruisers and destroyers.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (Photo #: 80-G-278815).

Like Hornet (CV-12) and Bennington (CV-20), Wasp had her flight deck smashed, too, but two months later, after the war was over, in a typhoon on August 26th, 1945.

Wasp's scoreboard on the forward bulkhead, hangar deck level just behind the forecastle.

It reads left to right, "Enemy bases attacked, 36 islands / Major cities attacked, Tokyo, Saigon, Manila, Camranh Bay, Hong Kong, Canton, Kure // Aircraft destroyed in the air by ship's gunfire and AirGroup 14, AirGroup 81 and AirGroup 86, 230 / AirGroup 14, AirGroup 81 and AirGroup 86, Aircraft Destroyed on ground, 405 // Ships sunk, 114 / Ships damaged, 234."